A Measure of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of an M-Cinema App

This study presents the results on the usability testing done on Golden Screen Cinema (GSC) mobile appli-cation at two sites: Polytechnic Balik Pulau, Penang and Poly-Tech College Mara (KPTM) Alor Setar, Kedah. The purpose of the testing was to elicit the overall reactions of users to the GSC mobile application with respect to the user interface, terminology and information, application capability and general impression. There were twenty volunteer participants who were recruited for the usability testing. Ten were used at Polytechnic Balik Pulau, Penang while the other ten were used at Kolej Polytech Technology Mara, Alor Setar. Of the 20 participants,17 had no prior experiences on the use of GSC mobile application while 3 had experience on the use of GSC mobile application. The test result showed that the GSC app is both effective and efficient. Thus, indicating that the mobile application has good usability in terms effectiveness and efficiency. However, the participants' facial expressions and body language while performing tasks revealed that some of them had some challenges. Features in the GSC app, such as choosing seats and making payment made some of the participants react uneasily and with caution because of their lack of confidence as it had to do with financial matters. Based on observation, most of the participants looked nervous and felt uneasy during the session. This was so even though a brief briefing about the test was given to avoid such nervousness.

Bizarre behavior during intracarotid sodium amytal testing (Wada test): are they predictable?

The intracarotid sodium amytal test (ISAT or Wada Test) is a commonly performed procedure in the evaluation of patients with clinically refractory epilepsy candidates to epilepsy surgery. Its goal is to promote selective and temporary interruption of hemispheric functioning, seeking to define language lateralization and risk for memory compromise following surgery. Behavioral modification is expected during the procedure. Even though it may last several minutes, in most cases it is subtle and easily manageable. We report a series of patients in whom those reactions were unusually bizarre, including agitation and aggression. Apart of the obvious technical difficulties (patients required physical restraining) those behaviors potentially promote testing delay or abortion and more importantly, inaccurate data. We reviewed those cases, seeking for features that might have predicted their occurrence. Overall, reactions are rare, seen in less than 5% of the ISAT procedures. The barbiturate effect, patients' psychiatric profiles, hemisphere dominance or selectiveness of the injection were not validated as predictors. Thorough explanation, repetition and simulation may be of help in lessening the risk of those reactions.

A General Theorem for Complex Chemical Systems Amenable to the Horiuti Approach

This paper deals with complex chemical systems for which Horiuti’s theory of stoichiometric numbers may bc applied. A general theorem is proved, linking the mechanistic and overall representations: the number of linearly dependent overall reactions equals the number oflinearly dependent steps.

Participants' Reactions to Computerized Testing

This study investigated participants' reactions to computerized testing and assessed the practicability of this testing method in the classroom. Three hundred and fifteen students took a computerized and a printed version of a standardized aptitude test battery, and a survey assessing their reactions. Overall reactions to the computerized test were overwhelmingly positive. Students reported that computerized testing can be a workable alternative to printed standardized testing. Administrators' reactions were mixed; examiners were excited about this new mode of test administration but had some difficulty with the planning and logistics of administration. Suggestions for improving computerized testing and the impact of the changing technology are discussed.